When a musician dies, it is rarely the end of their story. While death
can propel megastars to even further success, artists overlooked in
their lifetime might also find a new type of fame. But a badly timed
move or the wrong deal can see the artist die all over again. Colonel
Tom Parker, the former carnival huckster, understood this high-wire act
implicitly and the posthumous career of Elvis Presley has provided a
template for everyone else. Estates have two jobs: keeping the artist's
name alive and ensuring they continue to make money. These can sometimes
be compatible goals, but often they spark a tension that is unique in
the music business. Drawing on interviews with those running music
estates as well as music lawyers, record company executives and
archivists, Leaving the Building reveals how the music industry is
constantly striving to perfect the business of death.